I chose a shirt for my 6 yr old. He's just so dang cute, he makes the best model for shirts... unless my 2 yr old is involved. :)

Here's what I thought...

My Review: The shirt options vary in size. The original shirt I had ordered ended up getting lost and so I had to pick a backup. They were really quick to resolve the issue though- a huge plus in their favor.

The shirt was a good fit for the size. I got a youth large because he grows like a weed! The shirt wasn't scratchy or anything. It wasn't really soft either. Just a regular t-shirt.

The color is vibrant and the graphic is clear.

It's a great shirt and I'm glad I picked it out. I can't wait for St. Patrick's Day to come and he'll get to wear it to school

I definitely recommend them. They have a ton of other shirts too, some more mature than others.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Ulysses S. Grant was President, the population of America hovered at 39 million, and the telephone was still a pipe dream, when in 1870 J. Herman Pine hung out a confectionery shingle on 8th Street above Walnut in Philadelphia and, along with his brother, sold their first batch of what they called 'Pine Brothers Glycerine Tablets.' In an attempt to relieve his own sore throat and those of his family members, Mr. Pine, a former German confectionery maker, determined that by combining the soothing natural qualities of glycerin with the healing properties of gum acacia, he could sooth and mitigate the mild discomfort of a sore throat. Add in some natural flavoring and a sweetener and voila, Pine Brothers Softish Throat Drops were born. "I have discovered something," Pine wrote, "which will give quick throat relief to thousands afflicted as I was." He added,"Perhaps I won't make much money out of this. But I can make people happy, and that's more important than money." Mr. Pine was being unduly modest, as his "discovery" would become one of the most successful, most delicious and most unique throat lozenges in the world. Nor has the recipe changed appreciably since it was first introduced to the public over 140 years ago.

In 1930 Pine Brothers was sold to the Life Savers Company and continued to flourish. Known for its 'soft drop consistency,' Pine Brothers lozenges became a favorite of adults and children alike. The product, which attracted healthiest sales in the eastern and northern states, due to its icy winters, reached its peak popularity in the 1970's. The company was sold by Life Savers, and then, having been re-sold and acquired a number of times, found itself essentially rudderless and under appreciated; this despite a legion of loyal consumers. Cost cutting changes were made to the original recipes, packaging became stale and marketing non-existent; Pine Brothers began to be made overseas. Sales declined.

Recently, Pine Brothers was acquired by the creator and former owner of Airborne, Victoria Knight-McDowell, for her new company 3 Sisters Home Products™. Much time and effort has been spent locating the original Pine Brothers recipes, redesigning the packaging, and creating an exciting yet classic new look. The natural product is once again being made in America, and is launching nationally in fall 2011. At which time old Mr. Pine, will succeed once again in "making people happy." God bless him!

What I thought...

The Review:

Well my very first thought was "WOW! That's a lot of stuff! Then I checked out the drops. They have a sort of softish feel to them. They're smooth to the touch and taste.

I like the "pucks" better because the bags don't reseal and the pucks obviously do.

The drops totally help to soothe achy throats. They work on kids without hyping them up as well. The taste is just like honey or cherry (I only tried one of the cherry ones so far...). I wouldn't give them to younger kids because they might swallow them whole. But they worked on my 6 year old during his latest cold. They've helped to ease the pain of a painful sore throat as well as keep coughing down to a minimum... both which are blessings when you aren't feeling too hot.

Since they taste so good, you can totally pop one in whenever you want.

If you need a new cough drop or throat soother, then these guys are totally the ones you want.

Hey everyone... today I'm bringing you info and a brief review on Skinny Jane Weight Loss & Nutrition for Women. Make sure to enter the giveaway at the end too!

Let's start off by seeing what the company says about it:

Skinny Jane helps women lose weight and be healthier and happier. We offer two weight loss challenges on our website, skinnyjane.com. The weight loss challenges come with the Skinny Jane Quick Slim Kit, which is the product we are offering for this promotion. The Kit includes:

Skinny Blend is the best-tastingweight loss shake on the market! It has a special blend of 7 proteins that will curb your appetite for up to 4 hours and energize you. One serving has just 100 calories, only 1 gram of sugar, 3 grams of fiber and 12 grams of protein. Skinny Blend will boost your protein intake so you keep your metabolism high while you are losing weight. You will love the Skinny Blend Shakes!

Skinny Burn is a great weight loss and fat burning supplement. It has 9 ingredients that work synergistically to help speed up your metabolism, boost your energy, and control your appetite. It contains Raspberry Ketones that have been proven to be very effective in burning body fat along with other ingredients that speed up your metabolism and curb your appetite.

Skinny Cleanse is a great weight loss aid because it will cleanse your body by removing toxins and impurities from your system. In turn, your body will be a much better fat burning machine. This is a gentle cleanse that is very safe and does not cause any stomach discomfort.

To see a list of ingredients on our weight loss products, please visit skinnyjane.com

Here's what I thought about it:

The Review:

As a reviewer, I was provided with a mixed sample that was meant to last a week. You have very specific instructions to follow for that week to see the optimal results. But mind you, it is only a week. You can only expect so much in one week, ya know?

Does it help take off weight, yes, but I suspect that the week's weight loss was more water weight than anything else- that's the first thing you tend to lose on most weight loss programs. If you don't keep up with whatever you're doing, you're also likely to gain it back because it is just water weight.

The flavors are pretty decent for a weight loss program. That right there speaks wonder for the program. Some taste pretty bad.

The pills aren't ridiculously big or anything. They go down smooth.

I do, however, think that if you have the time to stick to the program, then you should probably find some time to do some exercising too. I'm not too fond of things that tell you what specifically you have to eat in order for their thing to work. I, for one, do not like pistachios. I'm not fond of most nuts.

If you're ready to dedicate some time and follow the directions, then I think this would be a good program for you. It's aimed at women, but maybe they have a male counterpart.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Just when Braedyn Murphy thought she understood the danger descending on Puerto Escondido, a new threat arrives. A cult devoted to Lilith has taken up residence in the little town, and when Cassie gets tangled up its intrigue, Braedyn realizes she might have to chose between protecting her friends and stopping Lilith from reclaiming this earth.

With her duties to the Guard wearing on her, Braedyn turns to Lucas for solace. Together they wonder if now is the time to claim their one night together—knowing that one night is all they may ever have.

Darker forces have their own plans for Braedyn and the Guard. Braedyn knew this fight could be brutal—but how much can one girl be asked to sacrifice in order to save the world?

Check out the previous books in the series:

Praise for "Thrall" (Daughters of Lilith: Book 1)

"Before you even start this review, put down anything you are doing and go read Thrall. It's AMAZING! BREATHTAKING! Engaging and smart, Thrall leaves you speechless!" - Savannah, Books With Bite

"The writing style is so smooth, yet gripping. Add some good characters, well-paced story and you have something that I like. No, not like. Love... No surprise that “Thrall” gets full five stars and the highest recommendations I can give." - Linda, The Fantasy Librarian

"How do I even begin to put all the crazy, gushy, ramblings in my brain about this book onto paper?!? Where to even begin?....This book is a MUST read!" - Hooked In A Book review on Amazon

Praise for “Incubus” (Daughters of Lilith: Book 2)

"If you like gutsy fantasy of the urban variety this should definitely be on your 'must read' list. Don't let the YA label put you off either, like all the best YA fiction, this can be enjoyed by adults as well. I give it an unreserved 5 stars." - Tahlia, Awesome Indies

"This is one of those books that I have been looking forward to since June of last year... I loved this book and I'm so happy I finally got to read it. I recommend the entire series for the fully developed characters, the impressive mythology, and the fight scenes. I am dreading waiting for the next book." - David, David-Reviews.com

"Great reading. LOVE IT. Jennifer Quintenz is a special writer who can be very riveting... Spent several sleepless nights in a crazy rush to see how it ends. Can't wait for the next books." - Terri, review on Amazon

About the Author:

Jennifer Quintenz is an award-winning film and television writer, author, and graphic novelist. She has written for Twentieth Television, Intrepid Pictures, and Archaia Studios Press. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and son.

Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold is the thrilling first installment in a new series of adventure mystery stories that are one part travel, one part history and five parts adventure. This first book of the Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency Series introduces Kitty Hawk, an intrepid teenage pilot with her own De Havilland Beaver seaplane and a nose for mystery and intrigue. A cross between Amelia Earhart, Nancy Drew and Pippi Longstocking, Kitty is a quirky young heroine with boundless curiosity and a knack for getting herself into all kinds of precarious situations.

After leaving her home in the western Canadian fishing village of Tofino to spend the summer in Alaska studying humpback whales Kitty finds herself caught up in an unforgettable adventure involving stolen gold, devious criminals, ghostly shipwrecks, and bone-chilling curses. Kitty's adventure begins with the lingering mystery of a sunken ship called the Clara Nevada and as the plot continues to unfold this spirited story will have armchair explorers and amateur detectives alike anxiously following every twist and turn as they are swept along through the history of the Klondike Gold Rush to a suspenseful final climatic chase across the rugged terrain of Canada's Yukon, the harsh land made famous in the stories and poems of such writers as Jack London, Robert Service and Pierre Berton. It is a riveting tale that brings to glorious life the landscape and history of Alaska's inside passage and Canada's Yukon, as Kitty is caught up in an epic mystery set against the backdrop of the scenery of the Klondike Gold Rush.

Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold is a perfect book to fire the imagination of readers of all ages. Filled with fascinating and highly Google-able locations and history this book will inspire anyone to learn and experience more for themselves as Kitty prepares for her next adventure - flying around the world!

The Review:

So far there are three books in the Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency Series. This one is the first in the series.

Iain has done a great job at making a fun series to read with a great lead character. Kitty is everything that you expect- witty, funny, and has a running commentary inside her head... sounds like a lot of teen girls (I can say this because once upon a time, I was a teen girl. LOL!).

The story is infused with great attention to detail, historical factoids, and an adventurous approach to detective work. I fell in love from page one.

This is a great read for all those that enjoy detective books told from the perspectives of teen girls. Think Harriet the Spy only a million times cooler. Once you pick it up, you're not going to wan tot put it down so make sure you have the time to just sit and read... I can only hope the rest of the series is as great as this book!

I like Root Beer.For me there is no other beverage that is quite as magical and mysterious and inexplicably smooth as a cold mug of Root Beer. From the very first sip this enchanting brew tingles your palette with a plethora of blissful sensations and slides slippery cool down into your stomach as it warms your heart. And don't even get me started talking about that sublime frothy icy mess that we call a Root Beer Float.When I was younger I fancied myself a bit of a Root Beer connoisseur, drinking my favourite brand A&W from tall, narrow champagne flûtes where the ice clinking against the side of the thin glass created a magical tinkling ambiance as I looked down my nose at all the other inferior Root Beer vintages. As I grew older and began to travel across the globe I naturally was inclined to seek out the very best Root Beers that the world had to offer. Surely somewhere deep in some ancient temple in the heart of the Mongolian desert there was a hitherto unknown type of Root Beer brewed by a secretive order of monks using ancient methods passed down through generations.Sadly, as I was to discover, Root Beer is very much a North-American thing and you can't really find it anywhere else in the world. The closest I ever got was in the jungles of Sierra Leone which smell a bit like Root Beer and diesel oil. (In fact, most non-North-American people to whom I have introduced this magical elixir have first cautiously taken a small sip then made a sour face, stating that "it tastes like medicine". Perhaps this is because the sarsaparilla root that gives Root Beer its name was originally used for medicinal purposes - typical for North-Americans to turn medicine into soft drinks, right?)I was crushed. If there was no Root Beer out there in the whole wide world, then what was the point of leaving my house in the first place? No one really needs to leave the house, after all. Everything you could ever need can be delivered right to your front door, including pizza and Root Beer and books and everything else you can find on amazon.com. But as it turns out the world is a pretty great place even without Root Beer. There are a million amazing things to see out there and as many more ways for all of us to see them, as our heroine and friend Kitty Hawk finds out in this book and the ones that will follow.Whatever you want to call it, "holidays" or "vacations" (I prefer to call them "adventures" and thus lift them out from the realm of the mundane because I believe that it's always an adventure any time one of us dares to go out and see just a little bit more of this world we inhabit), I always like to try and live life with what I call a "Hemingway Complex". I even once wrote a travel book using this as a title.And what exactly is a "Hemingway Complex", you ask?Well, some people might describe Ernest Hemingway as being "larger than life". But to say that is not entirely accurate. He was merely larger than other people's lives. He was certainly larger than my life, for example, but he fit quite comfortably into his own. My life isn't extraordinary like that of the great Ernest Hemingway. I've never run with the bulls or told people that I fought in wars or hunted German U-Boats in the Caribbean while drinking cocktails on a yacht. But to me living life with a Hemingway Complex means living in pursuit of the impossible. And it's the only way that I ever seem to do anything interesting.Don't forget to check out the latest happenings in the world of Kitty Hawk at www.kittyhawkworld.com and it you're interested also head over to www.secretworldonline.com and check out some of the songs that I write and record in my spare time in an effort to try and convince people that I am much busier than I actually am.

TheRose, 15, lives in isolation in the last protected forest of The Americas with her mother Mooma and 9 year old sister, Bugbee. When their mom vanishes, the girls are forced to venture into a world poisoned by ‘The Big Sick.’ Following the secret map encoded in Mooma’s beaded necklace, TheRose and Bugbee must navigate the strange mall dwellings that the last vestiges of mankind are forced to live in order to survive—intent on solving the mystery of their mother’s disappearance. In the process, they discover the real story behind their father’s death, who the legendary enigmatic character Shesus really is and why they are all being relentlessly pursued by the sinister and all—powerful Govercorp, as the fate of the planet hangs in the balance.

The Review:

Hilary has done an awesome job with the development of her characters. I feel like they could be walking around in the world- of course that could be because it's all based off a recurring dream she had!

This is a great YA book that touches on a lot of different topics that make it a good book for both parents and teens to read- gives you something to talk about. But it isn't just limited to YA readers. Adults can pick it up and get lost in the story and everything this awesome book has to offer.

The plot cruises along taking you on a wild ride that will keep you guessing and entertained as you forget the world around you and get caught up in the world of Shesus.

As an actor, I always loved to improvise. My favorite part I ever played, Divatox the Evil Queen in "Turbo: A Power Ranger Adventure" , was so enjoyable because the director Shuki Levy really let me fly! Most of the dialogue was what I made up on the spot, especially the humor.

As an actor, no matter what part I was playing, I always used my imagination to convince myself everything was really happening to me. I created a whole life for my character, a whole story. So when it comes to sitting down and writing, that creative energy really is the same. I sort of become each character and their stories, and the dialogue would just kind of flow through me.

Whenever anybody reads SHESUS they ask me- How did you come up with that futuristic world? Where did those characters come from? All I can say is I used the same technique as I did when I was acting and I'd inhabit that "SHESUS" world so completely. Hours would go by and when I was done I felt like I was really in another world for that time. It was exhilarating and all consuming, just like acting!

About the Author:

I am an actress, musician, game inventor and writer. As a member of the all girl band, IRS recording artists American Girls, I played bass, percussion and co- wrote all the songs on our 1986 (yikes) album. Our songs were in the movies Tough Guys and Troop Beverly Hills which I also appeared in. I've starred in over 23 movies- and had the most fun playing the evil queen, Divatox, in the movie Power Rangers: a Turbo Adventure (as well as on the series ) and I have my own action figures to prove it! I also re-occurred on the tv show Star Trek Deep Space 9 and appeared as a guest star on pretty much every iconic TV show from the 80ies and 90ies from Family Ties and Full House to the Golden Girls and Doctor Doctor, almost always with giant hair and in spandex. I also co-invented the award winning board games LIEbrary, Famous Last Lines, and Call it! with my best friend, actress Daryl Hannah. I co-created the CBC sitcom "Material World" that won a Geni for Best New Show and my personal essays have appeared on the websites Freshyarn, CrazySexyLife, and The Conversation. A proud breast cancer survivor, I was recovering from several surgeries when a friend took me to see a 90 year old tarot card reader who wanted to know why I sill hadn't written my book based on re- occurring dreams I had when I was little, I was pretty stunned when the psychic told me the actual name of the book -SHESUS and that it would change the lives of young girls and people everywhere. I had no other choice than to get off my butt and write the damn thing. A year later SHESUS was born, I live in Southern California with my two daughters, boyfriend and Toyger cat Fuego. SHESUS is my first novel. Buy the book and see if the psychic was right...

A Chaser born to kill vampires, sixteen-year-old Rachel Campton has grown up in her older brother's shadow. Until she wakes up a vampire, her own mortal foe. She's stronger, faster than her human self, but haunted by bloodlust and the loss of her beloved younger sister, also a paranormal.

Friendless and lost in enemy territory, Rachel must rely on Alex Wellington, a former nemesis and centuries old vampire who looks like a college football player.

As Rachel goes deep into vamp territory, she learns there is more to the vampire life than killing humans. She also discovers another side to Alex. He is more than a murderer, he is someone that she starts to fall for. Rachel faces the ultimate choice--her new life and unexpected love or the family she left behind, the family that may now want her dead.

Shadow Allegiance is the second novel in this young adult vampire series. Book one, Unholy Alliance, and book 2.1, Rival, are also available.

The Review:

Let me start by saying that if you've not read the first book (like me) you can still read this book. Lacy throws all the important stuff at the reader to keep you on track of where you're supposed to be in terms of serial knowledge.

This book has a great set of characters that you really want to have a happily ever after. There is just something about them that makes you want them to find what most of us never get.

I really love the way Lacy has developed her characters. Not only did I love the emotions, but I felt like I could relate to them and connect. This is so important- especially when writing in this genre!

It's a great book and I highly recommend it for those that love paranormal books, vampires and a good mix of YA genres. :) Check it out!

LACY YAGER is a pseudonym for Lacy Williams, who also writes Inspirational romance under that name. As the oldest of three siblings, Lacy exhibits most of the typical first-child characteristics and has always loved to boss around her younger siblings. Now that she's married with two kids and three dogs, she has plenty of people to play house with!During high school, Lacy completed the course WRITING FOR CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS from the Institute of Children's Literature. After she graduated college, Lacy got serious about her writing career and joined the American Christian Fiction Writers. When presented with the opportunity to write mainstream YA with her younger sister, Lacy couldn't say no.Lacy's books have finaled in the RT Book Reviews Reviewers' Choice Awards (2012 & 2013), the Golden Quill and the Booksellers Best Award.

These violent delights have violent ends...Gigi Caputo is fed up. A vicious act of vandalism has dealt another blow to her family's proud pizza heritage, and the Montes--owners of a rival Italian restaurant--are clearly to blame. The hostility goes far beyond bragging rights for best pizza in Chicago. The Montes have been bent on destroying Cap's for four generations. Even if it means putting herself in harm's way, Gigi's determined to get to the bottom of the feud. Instead, in a secret encounter with Roman Monte, the very boy whose relatives have brought her family such grief, she finds both danger and love at first sight. If the daughter and son of these two warring families fall for each other, can it be anything but a recipe for disaster? Slowly, Gigi and Roman learn that their story is fatefully linked to the summer of 1933, when two twelve-year-olds, Benny and Nick, hop the turnstile at the Chicago World's Fair. The most stunning wonder of the fair is Stella, who innocently causes a lasting rift between the two boyhood. Wending its way through past and present day, this modern take on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is bittersweet, funny, and intensely exciting. It's classic romance--a tale of hate and the only force that can ever defeat it: love.

The Review:

I really love this series because it takes classic stories we all love and updates them with a modern YA twist to them. This time around we've been blessed with a new take on Romeo & Juliet (one of my favorites!... Okay, my FAVORITE Shakespeare!).

This book is awesome because it gives you multiple perspectives. Pre- and Post- feud. I love it. It really gives you the dynamics between the families and everything.

Now just because it is inspired by Romeo and Juliet, does not mean that it is the same thing... nope. It's merely inspired and you can see the amazing innovation and creativity that these two amazing women used to make this great book.

If you like adaptations, then you'll love this. Make sure to check out their other books in the series as well!

Kim Askew is coauthor of Twisted Lit, the Shakespeare-inspired series of YA novels from Merit Press. A contributor to the anthology The May Queen, Kim's writing has appeared in literary journals and other publications, including the SoMa Literary Review, Kitchen Sink, and Elle Magazine. She is currently working on her Master's thesis on Henry James at Mount St. Mary's College, Los Angeles. With her friend Amy, she writes the popular blog about book-to-film adaptations, Romancing the Tome.

Amy Helmes

Amy Helmes co-authored "Exposure," "Tempestuous," and "Anyone But You," the first three in a series of Shakespeare-inspired YA novels known as "Twisted Lit." She's also written a compendium of tongue-in-cheek dating guides including the pseudo-scientific tome "Boys of a Feather: A Field Guide to North American Males." Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Amy graduated from Xavier University before migrating to Los Angeles. In 2004, she competed against record-setting champion Ken Jennings on the trivia quiz show "Jeopardy." (No surprise, she lost.) She obsesses over classic literature (and film adaptions thereof) at twistedlit.tumbler.com and dishes on love triangles and evil twins as news editor for the nationally published Soaps In Depth magazine.